7 Principles for Lifelong Growth
In this blog, I outline some of the main principles that have shaped my mindset in life to this point. The following values have been significant for generations and will continue to hold merit for years to come. These specific ideals come from parents, mentors, and coaches. Most of these lessons were learned in the school of hard knocks, and took several seminars until I realized the significance of each.
Integrity: Integrity is number one on my list of principles because all subsequent principles stop at this proverbial fork in the road. Integrity is an internal battle between right and wrong, and frequently the right decision is not the easy one. We usually do not know whether we made the correct choice, other than by the feeling we get in our gut. The lack of instant feedback is because these actions often take place when no one is watching. In the long run, a life and business operated on truth will lead to stronger relationships, more referrals, a clearer conscience, and a sustainable, trustworthy reputation. What is your conscience telling you about your habits and decisions?
Persistence: The ability to remain consistent in working toward a specific objective. This is often easy at first but becomes more difficult as more time passes and distractions arise. However, with consistent action over time, our brains form habits in which we act almost automatically. This might seem overwhelming, but rest assured, it is often small, daily actions that make the largest impact in our lives. Which goals did you give up on, that you were so close to achieving?
Service: I love the way a mentor of mine, Zig Ziglar, summarized this principle. He says, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” It is often said that to lead is to serve. Service, to me, means being dutiful with investors’ capital, while revitalizing apartment communities and improving the surrounding population at large. A great book on this topic for business is “The Go Giver” by Bob Burg and John David Mann. Who can you help today?
The Value of a Dollar: In its most basic form, this idea instills standards of work ethic and personal responsibility. My parents taught me at a young age that if I really wanted something, I had to work for it. Although I didn’t fully understand the significance in the moment, when I finally accomplished my objective, I appreciated the value of my success that much more. The responsibility was on me, which I later realized made me more resourceful for having overcome the challenges, in pursuit of my goal. How can your hard-earned dollar go further?
Gratitude: This is something that is often forgotten in today’s world. We always want more – nothing ever seems to be good enough. Being thankful for what you have and where you are in life lends perspective on how far you have come and keeps motivation alive for where you want to go. The more grateful you are, the less stressed and more fulfilled you will feel. Something that has always stuck with me throughout life is the fact that no matter my situation, there is likely someone else who is worse off. What and who are you grateful for today?
Actions Have Consequences: Often this belief is associated with punishment but it is also noteworthy for positive outcomes. Every action you take, good or bad, is met with a corresponding reaction – basic cause and effect. Sometimes the feedback is instant, but often the result of our action is not realized until days, weeks or even years in the future. Therefore, it is important to stop and reflect from time-to-time and be self-aware of your habits and tendencies. Are your actions today serving the future you, or are they setting you up for potential distress?
Failure is Fundamental: It is like the old saying goes; no pain, no gain. A mentor of mine, David, has a great philosophy on failure. He says, “It is best to fail early and often.” This is in context with learning a new skill. His logic is that failure is inevitable, and the fear of failure often stops most people from ever starting in the first place. When you act, and fail early, you figure out what not to do, which temporarily suppresses this fear. This temporary suppression provides insight, and allows you to figure out the next step. This failing forward momentum gives you confidence in overcoming problems, making the remaining journey to your goal that much more achievable. What is one goal that you’ve put off due to fear of failure?
Mindset is everything: The key to achieving anything in life, is to first believe that you can do it. Our minds are very powerful in the way that they control what we think, say and do. Our past experiences shape our minds and how we think and act. The good news is that they can be shaped and reprogrammed with intentional actions, to do things that we never thought we were capable of. Put another way, are the sayings “thoughts are things” and “we become what we think about”. A great book on the power of our minds is “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill.
Feel free to reach out to discuss your goals and mindset, or with any other questions about investing or life. Give us a call at Nord Ventures or fill out a contact form on our website.
